Should I pay the locum tenens buy out?

[cboylb]

I worked for a practice on a locum tenens basis for a while, and the doc has offered me a full time position. In the initial unofficial contract offer (he gave me a sheet of paper with some figures on it) he said the practice would pay the temp agency buy-out, and also verbally said he would take care of it. Now, the official contract says the clinic will pay it, but I would repay the clinic for it on a quarterly basis. It's $12,000! 

 

Base salary: $78,000 (with bonus up to 103K)

I will pay my all my own benefits.

 

I know it's not great, but my background situation hasn't provided me with many options (i'll leave out the details), so I really don't want to lose this opportunity. But the contract seems to stink.

 

My main question is about the buy-out. Anybody have a similar experience?

[mgriffiths]

First off: what area of medicine?

 

Second: I'm still in PA school, but have had a career before so I'm not new to negotiating contracts

 

I have not had this situation, and I obviously don't know the details of your personal situation...but, as you stated it's not a great offer.  I would expect that 100% of your bonus (probably more) would be going directly to cover your benefits.  But, you have to decide what is right for you and it sounds like you feel like your options are limited.  If this is true, it may be worth it to take the job and fight for raises or benefits each year.  Or, probably the better idea is to take the job and keep looking for other options that are even better!

 

But everything boils down to comparing your present situation and options to what this doc is offering.  You have to make the personal choice of whether it is right for you to take a job that you know "seems to stink." 

[ventana]

no, no an no

 

the clinic paid that money, not you

 

they are being CHEAP with the offer and the attempt to get you to pay your own recruiting fee

 

I would counter with an offer for 85K, they pay full bennies, and pay and provide proof of malpractice insurance with PTO on par with the AAPA report 

no way I would sign a contract like that unless it was literally the only choice and the alternative was no work.  BUT then I would still not pay the recruiting fee, and I would make sure it was only a year contract, and NO restrictions on working in the same town.  

 

It speaks VOLUMES about his/her thoughts about a PA with an offer like this - you are unimportant, not valued, and just a cost center to be controlled.  None of which should be true.

[mgriffiths]

ventana: very true!

[fflores98]

Absolutely not! I am not a PA yet (start in august) but I am a recruiter. The fee that you mention is a liquidation fee that is set in writing by a contract between the staffing agency and your employer. Most liquidation fees that I work with are the following; If the employer hires you permanent before 6 months then I (staffing company) will bill the employer 20% of your annual salary. between 6 months to 1 year it drops to between 10-15% of your salary and we do not charge anything after the employee has been working for a full year.

 

Staffing companies usually have these arrangements with the employer but I've NEVER heard of the employee being held liable for the arrangements of their employer. Sounds to me like they are being cheap and don't want to offer any benefits. Tread carefully.

[loliz]

No, no, no!!

Pay is horrible even if it included full benefits!

As for the pay out- no way! That is the contract THEY SIGNED with the temp agency and therefore, the cost of business that they agreed to. 

[sillycibin]

Why not just continue as locums getting your locums rate?  He is going to have a heck of a time replacing you with that pathetic offer.

[ColoradoIMCardsPA]

I agree with sillycibin.

 

Also that salary/benefit package is really bad even if you didn't have to pay them $12,000 out of a $78,000 salary.

 

Would only do it if you're really, really desperate.

[rookiejay]

I hope you didnt do it, that pay deal was horrible